Tread for tractors



Sept. 25

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1921 M m m 4.. T

J n N w.A0I A s WW 5 E N w WWW ATTORNEY Sept. 25, 1923'.

c. GENTRY TREAD FOR TRACTORS Filed Au 24, 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 all/1115:1151!!!711::

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY Cleveland. Gentry rs. "t fe t-e CLEVELAND GEIJTRY; 0F AZUEA, CALIFORNIA.

rennet) FOR *r'riecrons.

Application filed August 24, 1921. Serial No. leases. V

T0 (a in]! on: mt/7; concer /t: V p 7 Be it known that l, LnvELAnn iinx'rnr,

:iziua, in the. county of Los Angeles and Cali'fornla have invented new and us -l Improvements in Treads for Tractors,

an endless chain is adapted to bedriven,

around a pair of sprockets and to contact with the surface of the ground, the chain comprising a series of alternate links ca pable of reversal to present a new surface to the action of the driving wheels'when .worn; Another object is to reduce the strain on the pivotalmeans between said links when the chain is in operation. p r A further object is to provide the chain with removable and rever'sibletread plates for contact with theground. the plates being of any desired width and being readily attached to or detached from the side plates of each of the links.

A "full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a considen ation oft the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a p'art'ot this specification; it being understood that while the drawings show a practical form of the in rention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but maybe changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the"inventiomas speciically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings. in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views? Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a chain constructed in accordance with the in-' vention.

i ure F2 is a side eleration of the same. V I is detail perspective view of a side plate ofone form. of link comprising the chain.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the removable and renewable semicircular sleeves used 1n connection with the structure shown lIl Flgure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view a c tizen of the United States residing at "taken through the structure as shown in Figure '1. V I

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view f taken on the line 6-'iiOliFigti 'ki l. I Figure-7 is a similar view taken on the line -7 o flr igure it. 1

Figure 8 s a detail perspective viewot the alternate link.

Referring to the drawings, and particularl Flgures l and'5; the tread chain co1n prises two forms of linlrs arrangedv alternately and each having me same length between the pivotal points one form of link comprising spaced sides, integrally 'joined adjacent their ends by hollow sleeves and, while the other linkcomprisesseparate side plates adapted forming "a single casting;

to overlap and abut against the outer faces of the sides of the firstna ned link, and having semi-circular lugs extendinghalf way across the width of the link and coactg ing with separate, semi-circular sleeves to torin bearing members which traverse the" hollow sleeves of the first link, and swivel therein when the chain is travelling around the driving" sprockets, tie-bolts passing through the coacting lugsand semi-circa sleeves to bind the two links together while permitting them to rotate freely.

The link COIHPOSQJlIlOf two separate incinbers coinpaflises'the longitudinally disposed .side plates 1,;tormed of suitable cast metal of gireatstren'gth and durability, and some,

what elongatedas viewed'i rom the side. as shown in Figures 2 and 5. and having their ends semicircular in forin'l'. the centers from which said rounded ends are struck, the plates l'are provided with apertures or bolt-openings 2, and the outermost halves of said openings extend longitudinally through opposite, semi-cylindrical lugs 3 formed integrally with the plates 1. and

so I

concentric to tne openings 2, and extending at rlght-angles to the plates, in-a horizontal plane toward the'opposite side of the chain, where the free ends of the opposed lugs abut each other ateach end of the opposite plates 1. The abutting-ends of these/mic vlindrical lugs are located at the center or median line ot the chain and serve to holdthe side plates 1. in their proper spaced relation after the chain 1s assembled; Semi-cylindrical sleeves 4' of a radius equal to that of the lugs 3, are adapted to] The inwardly directed flanges of the side plates 1, as clearly, shown in Figure l of the drawing, are in longitudinal-aimement with the outwardly directed flanges 13 of the side walls 11 of the other link, and thus a continuous track or bearing surface is provided for the attachment o f the tread plates on one side of'the several links, and for hearing against the periphery or a sprocket wheel, ('not"shown) during the travel of the chain about thesaine. Y 1

During the operationcf a chain of this character for the purpose of driving a tractor or for otherheavy duty purposes, the portion'of the chain coming in contact withthe surface of the driving wheel and the teeth or projections'thereon, is subjects-ll to great strain and wear and, when ordinary 7 chains are used, it requires'frequent repair or replacement of the chain, but when the present chain'becomes worn in this manner, it is only necessary'to remove the Same from the wheels, and by detaching the tread plates and brackets, the same maybe secured to the several links at the wornsides or edges thereof, when practically new chain is provided. When the links are thus turned upside down to present a new and unworntrack to the periphery of the dr'ving sprockets and to the flanged truck lit wheels (not shown) of thetractor, the several links may also be turned end to end when a new and unworn' site of each sleeve 12 w1ll be presented to take the wear of the sprocket teeth, as will be understood.

The strain of the pull. of the'chain is taken up by the solid sleeve 12 in surrounding relation to the lugs 3 and semi-sleeve l, thus relieving the strain on, the relatively small bolt 21, whose duty is merely to prevent any lateral separation of the side plates 1, and since it is possible to easily and quickly renew the shim 20, it will be seen that the connection between'the links-is such as to reduce the wear to the minimu ii. The flanges 5 and 13 may be omitted from the links when the chain is to be used for other than traction purposes.

The outstanding features of the present invention may be said to reside principally in the following vital points-the double flange or rail which, by turning the links upside down permits a new and unworn track to be presented to take the wear of the tractor supporting. truck wheelsthe solid, one-piece construction of the alternate links having the integral sleeves which may not become detached from their respective side plates and which, by reversing the links, end for end, presents an unworn portion to the driving teeth of ,the sprockets, the intereiiangeability and reversibility of the separate side plates having the semi-sleeves extending across half the width of the chain the links .together i the drive sprockets so tirenew, bearing; surface and the renewabil' y of the semi-sleeves co- 65 "acting" therewith to thcr with the shims,

foregoing it will be theta economical drive chain in qtrrjctorsgor for other hear ty, hgs been provided hich he i ie'cting n in n rat:

cally eli ninatefthe we the chain may be reversed it an en-'.

a V the that the tread versed'when we aced entirely, withoutldismantling or requ ring the same tobe removedfro n the said drive wheels. "i V, i. 1 8 0 ,VVhat'is elaimedis v n ll In device of the chara ter described, a chain composed o f-altern atef'links interfitting and connected .to each other, every 7 other, link composed of a single integral castinghaving spaced elongated side walls 7 connected near their ends by transverse sleeves, the other alternate links comprisingv separate side plates adapted to bear against the outer side faces of the first link, transverse, semi-tubular lugs carried by said plates and extending halfway through the said sleeves and abutting against each other. -V a semi-tubular member equal length to v the two abutting lugs adapted to lit in the remaining half of the sleeve to bridge the joint between the lugs and to coact therewith lit-ting and connected toeach other, every other link composed of a single integral casting having spaced elongated side walls connected near their ends by Y transverse sleeves having interior, removable, semitubu'lar shims therein, the other alternate links comprising separate side plates adapted to bear against the outer side'faces of the first link, transverse, semi-tubular lugs carried by said plates and extending halfway through thesaid sleevesand abutting against each other, a semi-tubular member equal in length to the two abutting lugs adapted to fit in the remaining half of the sleeve to bridge the joint betweenthe'lugs and to coact therewith to form a pintle for the sleeve, and tie-bolts traversing the pas-. sage formed by the lugs and the semi-tubular member and adapted to hold the separate, outer-side platesin spaced relation to permit the links toswivel upon each other.

3. Atread for tractors comprising a chain 7 having alternate integral and separable links, the former comprising spaced-side walls joined near their ends by integral transverse sleeves, the latter comprising side plates each having spaced se1ni-tubular lugs adapted to extend halfway through the sleeves of the integral link, semi-tubular sleeves coacting with the opposite, abutting lugs Within said sleeves, and transverse bolts traversing the opening between the opposite lugsiand the coacting semi-tubular sleeves for holding the inner ends of the lugs in abutting relation to permit one link to swivel on the other. V

4:. A chain of the class described composed of alternate integral and separable links, the former comprising spaced side walls joined near their ends by integral transverse sleeves open at each end, each of the separable links comprising a pair of side plates having at each end a pair of opposed lugs, a sleeve segment cooperating with the pair or" lugs to form a sectional sleeve inside the integral sleeve, and a transverse bolt extending through each of the sectional sleeves and cooperating with the integral sleeve to hold the sectional sleeve in assembled relation therein.

each end, the other links being formed of separate side plateshaving transverse seinitubular lugs extending inwardly therefrom and abutting each other, and a semi tubular sleeve forming With the semi-tubular lugs a complete sleeve to be inserted Within the integral sleeve of the other link.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto afliXed my signature. v r

' CLEVELAND GENTRY. 

